Contents

History

Jack O'Lantern

The U.S. Marines recruited Jason Macendale while he was attending an undergraduate class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, forming him into a fighter pilot. Upon discharge from the Marines, he began four years' active service as a CIA field agent in the Asian theatre. However, his methods and tactics soon proved too brutal and extreme for his superiors to tolerate. Seeking employment elsewhere, Macendale embarked on a career as an international mercenary. Eventually evaluating his craft to a precise science, he adopted the distinctive costume of the Jack O'Lantern to help promote his accomplishments to prospective employers.[1][2]

Jack O'Lantern

He later salvaged the Hobgoblin's Battle Van after being hired through intermediaries by that villain.[3] However, the two men became rivals during the Gang War that raged in New York over the Kingpin's former territory.[4]

Hobgoblin

Macendale eventually hired the Foreigner to identify and kill Ned Leeds, who was believed to be the Hobgoblin. At the time it appeared Foreigner's assassins were successful,[5] and Macendale became the new Hobgoblin.[6]

After losing fights with Spider-Man and the Green Goblin,[7] Macendale took advantage of the Inferno crisis by following several demons back to their lair and confronting their demonic lord, N'Astirh. Macendale wanted enough power to defeat his enemies, and offered his soul to N'Astirh in exchange for such power. When N'Astirh stopped laughing, the demon lord decided that Macendale's effrontery was worth something even if his soul wasn't, and had him possessed. This gave Macendale the physical strength he craved, coupled with superhuman speed and endurance.[8]

Despite his new power, Macendale was grotesquely misshapen by the demon possessing his body, giving him an appearance similar to his old Goblin masks. A spell cast by Doctor Strange later altered Macendale's perceptions, causing him to think he looked normal.[9]

After a brief scuffle with Spider-Man and Puma,[10] Macendale broke Carrion out of the Vault and manipulated him into uniting in their shared hunger for revenge against Spider-Man. Together, they captured him and held him captive in the sewers. Macendale promised to let Carrion kill Spider-Man, once he had arranged to be paid by Hammerhead to deliver him the Wall Crawler's head. However, Spider-Man managed to escape and defeat Carrion before an enraged Macendale arrived to finish the job himself. In the midst of the fight, Carrion, upon seeing Spider-Man shield his his mother and Mary Jane Parker from harm, jumped in and took a Pumpkin Bomb for them, nearly killing him and Macendale in the process.[11]

Macandale was later recruited into the new Sinister Six,[12] working for Doctor Octopus and later against him.[13][14] Unfortunately, the demon who possessed him proved to be incompatible, and the two fought many a battle for control of Macendale's physical form until the demon literally ripped away from its human host and began a separate existence as the Demogoblin.[15]

Powerless again, Macendale needed an edge and found it when he presented himself to Vladimir Kravinoff, the Grim Hunter. Kravinoff needed a guinea pig to test his father's serum on, and Macendale had nothing to lose. An element of his former demonic possession allowed Hobgoblin to survive the process that killed others, restoring his superhuman strength. And it was with this power that he managed to finish off his tormentor, the Demogoblin, once and for all.[16]

After Doctor Octopus's murder, a more confident Hobgoblin, the Vulture, Mysterio, and Electro were recruited by Elias Hargrove, a cousin of the Doctor, to steal Octopus' equipment and notes from a government facility. It was later revealed to be a scheme concocted by Mysterio to keep all the booty for himself.[17] Later on, the Hobgoblin became leader of the Sinister Seven. He was concentrating his efforts on riding his new organization of Doctor Octopus' killer, Kaine. During this time, he had some trouble obtaining the Vulture's cooperation.[18]

Later, Macendale started working for Gaunt during the Clone Saga with the mercenary group called Cell-12, who had outfitted him with cybernetic implants.[20][21]

After being captured by the Scarlet Spider,[22] Macendale revealed to the press of killing and replacing his apparent predecessor, Needs. He was transferred to Great Neck. He experienced nightmares of being haunted by Spider-Man and the Hobgoblin. Waking up, he was confronted by a mysterious figure standing outside his cell. He had the same voice as the Hobgoblin; in fact, he was the Hobgoblin. Ned Leeds was a "dupe" donning the costume. Because Macendale had become such an embarrassment, he had to die. And thus, he was blasted within close range, reduced to a smoldering skeleton.[23]Roderick Kinglsey, the Hobgoblin, was back.[24]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

After taking the Calypso Serum, Macendale has gained the same strength offered to his fellow super-villain, Kraven the Hunter.

Macendale is an exceptionally military-trained master of most known forms of hand-to-hand combat and the martial arts.[1] His fighting skill was enough to match even that of Spider-Man.[25]

Extremely agile, Macendale is an above average gymnastics ability, strength, and endurance.

Macendale has received extensive CIA sponsored flight training, which includes single and multi engine propeller and jet aircraft, a helicopter, gyrocopter, and hang gliding qualifications.

Also has extensive training in the fields of electrical engineering and physical sciences.

Strength level

While possessed by the Demogoblin, Macendale could lift up to 10 tons. Afterwards, with the help of the Calypso Serum, he could only lift as much as 4 tons. He later regained his previous full strength level in due part to his cybernetics.[1]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Jack O'Lantern employs numerous types of custom designed a grenades including anaerobic, lachrymatory, regurgitant gas, smoke, and concussion grenades. Jack O'Lantern wears a complete body armor made of metal-covered, multi segment Kevlar panels, incorporating a rigid, articulated shell which can resist a 7 lb. bazooka anti-gun warhead.
Jack O'Lantern's head is covered by a bulletproof helmet with an internal, 3 hour, compressed air supply and is equipped with telescopic infrared image intensifiers for seeing in the dark. The base of the helmet is equipped with a fine network of pin holes which maintained a low temperature flame ("stage-fire": a low density flame used safely on stage to simulate fire) their rings around his head at all times. The air supply cools the interior of the helmet semi-adiabatically through expansion.